Disposable umbrella for emergency use



March 23, 1954 E. T. MOPARTLAND 2,672,877

' DISPOSABLE UMBRELLA FOR EMERGENCY USE Filed Feb. 3, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 1 @4 1.

I E INVENTOR.

I EDWARD T. MCPARTL/l/VD [)1 BY Q I ATTORNEY March 23, 1954 E. T. M PARTLAND DISPOSABLE UMBRELLA FOR EMERGENCY USE Filed Feb. 3, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATYUlP/VEY March 23, 1954 E MCPARTLAND 2,672,877

DISPOSABLE UMBRELLA FOR EMERGENCY USE Filed Feb. 3, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 23 1954 s' PATENT DISPOSABLE UDTBREISILA FOR EMERGENCY Edward. T. McPartland, New York, N..Y.

"Application February 3, 1950, Serial No. 142,292

Claims. 1

the ultimate selling price of the umbrella will bean important-factorin determining the nature of the material to-be used.

An umbrella made in accordance with this invention for strictly emergency useand-intended to be discarded at the end of the emergencyperiod, may be made of relatively non-durable materials. suchas paper or cardboard,treated with paraffin orother suitable substances to render, it waterproof, orat least highly resistant to disintegration inthe presence of water. An umbrella made in accordance with the present invention and intended for non-emergency as well as emergency use may be made of more durable and perhaps more expensive materials, such as Celluloid, plastics and even sheet aluminum.

Anotherobject of this invention is the'provision of a disposable umbrella of the. character describedwhich may be made very inexpensively by mass productionmethods; More specifically, the several parts of the present umbrella may be die-cut-to appropriate shape, and one ofthe parts' thereof, namelythe canopy, may be prescored in long, continuous sheets. before the diecutting operation, leavin only the assembling and folding, operations .for. the last. The as: sembling operations are neither complicated or diifi'cult, since they consist, generally, of only one step,. namely .the step. of affixing the handle to the canopy. This, may be done in. any suitable, conventional manner and by. any suitable, conventionalmeans; Metal staplesmay be used or a suitable cement or the like.

A :iurther object of this invention .is' the provision of, a disposable umbrella of the character described which is readily foldable to compact proportions. theprior art arenon-collapsible ordnonefoldable and they areaccordingly difficult to manage, and

handle. Theymustbe shipped, stocked andsold.

in. openucondition with consequent, wasteof valuable shipping and storing space insofar as Many disposable umbrellas of the the shipper, distributor and retailer are". con: cerned, and with corresponding waste of display space in the retail establishment. This isespecially true of small newsstands located at train, car and bus stations and stops Wheredisposable umbrellas would be most likely to sell". A non-collapsible and non-foldable umbrella is also inconvenient for the ultimate consumer since it would require entering crowded quarterswith a wet, unwieldy contraption which would-cause considerable annoyance anddiscomf'ort toothers. It would be unthinkable, for example, to take a wet, non-collapsible umbrella into acrowded street-car or bus. And yet that is what many designers of disposable umbrellas of-the prior art would have the users of their umbrellas do. An umbrella made in accordance with the present invention is fullyfoldable to conserve shipping and storing space and for the purposeof rendering 'it convenient to use in the hands of the ultimate consumer.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a sun-shield or parasol' which is made in accordance with the rinciples of; the present invention. The present invention is' applicable not only to umbrellas which shield ag'ainsttherain but also to umbrellas which shield against the sun. Disposable umbrellas-ofthe character herein described and claimed may be used to good advantage atbeaches, in parks and the like. Umbrellas made in accordance with the present invention are also conducive to use by children during thecourse of-their play-time activities.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of. a. ribless umbrella, It" is a wel1. known fact that the outwardly projecting ends: of umbrella ribs have caused many an'injuryto the person carrying the umbrellaas Well as to others in the'immediate vicinity. Injuries to the; eyes have onmany occasions been caused by these'outwardly projecting ribs. Umbrellas made in accordance with the present: invention are provided with stiffenin means other than ribs and'hence the danger of injury caused byribs inconventional umbrellas is thereby avoided.

Briefly speaking umbrellas made in accord ance with the present. invention comprise but two parts: a canopy and'a handle to support, the canopy. Thecanopy isof, threetypes; the, firs ype is, entirely pendent upon, the handle. t maintain it in open or operatillccondition The second type. is a combination.: ofthe first.,.and' t types. since a handle similar. to that of the.

' first type is employed and such handle is ma terially assisted in its function by the structural strength inherent in the canopy. The third type can maintain itself in open or operative condition without external support. The handle which is employed in connection with the first and second type of canopy accordingly performs two functions: the first is to maintain the canopy in open, operative condition; the second is to provide a support whereby the person using the umbrella may hold the canopy in operative position. The handle for the third type of canopy is used principally to enable the person making use of the umbrella to hold the canopy in operative position, but in addition to this function, it helps maintain the canopy in open condition.

Preferred forms of this invention are illus-- trated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of an umbrella made in accordance with the first form of thi invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of said umbrella, partly broken away and in section, and showing said umbrella in partly folded condition.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the canopy in bowed condition.

Fig. l is a bottom view of said umbrella as viewed in the direction of arrows lt of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to that of Fig. 3, showing how the handle may be folded to give the canopy its bowed, operative shape.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line ii of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a view of the umbrella shown in the first six figures of the drawing, showing it in partly folded condition.

Fig. 8 shows the same umbrella folded still further.

Fig. 9 shows the same umbrella in completely folded condition.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of an umbrella made in accordance with a second form of this invention.

Fig. 11 is a side edge view of said umbrella before the canopy is bowed to operative position.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing how the handle of the said umbrella is held in the hand to support the umbrella in operative position.

Fig. 13 is a bottom view of said umbrella look.- ing in the direction of arrows lS-i3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of an umbrella made .in accordance with a third form of this invention, the canopy thereof being partly brolzen away to expose an overlapped portion thereof.

Fig. 15 is a side view thereof showing its con ical shape.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of said umbrella looking upwardly at the under side thereof.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view of umbrella showing the handle construction thereof.

Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken on the line 18-18 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a bottom view of an umbrella made in accordance with the first form of this invention but showing a modified folding line arrangement.

Fig. 20 is a similar view of another umbrella made in accordance with the first form of this invention, showing still another modified arrangement of the folding lines.

Fig. 21 is still another similar View of an umbrella made in accordance with the first form of this invention with a further modified arrangement of the folding lines.

Referring now to the first form of this invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, it will be noted that an umbrella is provided which consists of but two elements: a canopy 2d and a handle 2! which is connected to said canopy by means of staples 22. The canopy comprises a disc-shaped sheet of suitable material, such as paraifined cardboard which is provided with a plurality of fold lines 23. The handle 2! comprises a strap which may also be made of the same or similar material, or for that matter, other material. It must be made of fairly stiff material, if the canopy is of flexible material, to prevent the canopy from assuming an inverted U -shape. Conversely, the handle need not be of stiff material if the canopy itself is of fairly rigid material. The handle is fastened at both ends by means of staples 22 or other fastening means near the center of said canopy 23, in such a position that its perpendicular bisector, or a similar imaginary line through its midsection, traverses all fold lines of the canopy. Fig. 1 shows the preferred location of the handle when used with a canopy containing a central fold, and all folds in parallel relation. The handle may be placed in the exact center on canopies which omit the central fold. In their relaxed states, the canopy and the handle are both flat against each other in the manner shown in Fig. 2 and the canopy does not have that bowed shape required to keep the canopy in open or operative condition. But when the handle is itself bowed in the direction away from the canopy, as witness Fig. 3, the effect is to bring the two ends of the handle closer to each other and thereby to produce a bowed effect in the canopy. The axis of the bowed canopy extends transversely of fold lines 23 and hence a strong, rigid structure results.

Handle 2i may be held in its bowed state by simply grasping it and inserting the fingers between it and the canopy and by the same token the canopy will itself assume its bowed shape. It will be noted in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, that the handle may be provided with a longitudinal folding line and with two Vshaped folding lines 26 at the two ends of the said longitudinal folding line. The two sides of the handle which are separated from each other by means of said longitudinal folding lines may then be folded over toward each other upon said longitudinal folding line in the manner shown in said Figs. 4, 5 and 6. This has the effect of further drawing the two ends of the handle toward each other to further accentuate the bowed condition of the canopy.

It has been stated that the canopy 20 is provided with a plurality of folding lines 23. It can be appreciated that canopies containing only one fold line may be made. Canopies which contain more than one fold line should preferably have such fold lines in parallel relation to each other, for parallel lines simplify manufacture, suggest the preferred method of folding, and permit the folded canopy to have a neat, compact appearance. While the fold lines need not necessarily be parallel, there are certain limitations that are essential to the proper functioning of the umbrella. The fold lines must not intersect, nor meet at any point or points other than on the perimeter. They must be of such length and direction that each is traversed by a diametric line, or a straight line which passes near the center of the canopy. Each fold line must be made in such a manner that it can be folded easily in either direction, thereby eliminating the V-shaped ridges that would otherwise be present in the canopy. If these ridges were not corrected they might easily distort the shape of the umbrella to aezaezr suchia: degree .as, to.- render; it unserviceable'... They are maderto. fold, easily in either direction by scoring both surfaces in the 'conventionaltmanner, making incisions on .bothisurfacesor cutting completely through each. fold andthen: coveringzeach. fold with a. suitabletape. These folding lines may be incorporated into. thematerial of which the canopy is madeeither beforeor after. the canopy is die-cut to appropriate. shape. In. the: preferred forms of this invention canopy. 2i! and. ally of the other canopies of which use mayv be -made,- are of circular or. disc shape, but. this should be taken. purely as illustrative .of' the. present invention and not as limitative thereof, since the canopiesmay be made to assume other shapes equally as well, dependingupon individual preferences and requirements. If the material of which the canopy is made, comes in long lengths, the folding lines 23 may advantageously be pressed or; cut; into the. material before it is die-cut. If the/material comes in short lengths it may be found desirable to incorporate the folding lines therein following the die-cutting operation. It should also be understood that the canopy needv not necessarily be dieecut one at a tim but instead layers of the, material may be die-cut simultaneously and by means of the same die-cutting operation.

The preferredmanner in which canopy 28 may be folded is clearly shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

Panels23a and 23b may be folded over upon panels 23c and 2301 respectively. Panels 23c and 23d may be folded over upon panels 232 and 23 respectively. Panels 23c and 23 may be folded over upon panels 239 and 23h respectively. And finally panels 23c, 23c, 23c, and 23g may be folded over. upon panels 23b, 23d, 23 and 23h. The folded canopy, shown-in- Fig. 8, may be folded over upon itself on a transverse folding line as shown in Fig. 9. It can be appreciated that canopy 20 -may be folded by a variety of other methods :since the folds are biflex, it does not have a conical shape, and the spacing between folds may vary.

Turning now to the second form of this invention and to Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, it will be seen that a canopy 30 is provided, having a handle 3| affixed thereto by means of staples 32 or by any otherconventional means. Canopy 30- is similar to canopy above described in that it is made of waterproof or waterproofed material and further in that it is made of a flat sheet containing one or more fold lines 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d, 33c, 33 and 339 which are subject to the same limitations outlined for canopy 20. Canopy must be folded in a manner similar to that illustrated for canopy 20 and therefore additional care is required in spacing the folds. In order to fold canopy 30 properly the distance between fold 33c and 33d should exceed the distance between fold 33c and 331), such distances being measured along a line drawn perpendicular to fold 330 at any point. The same reasoning would apply to folds 3301, 33c and 33 and allowance must be made for the seam which is made in the following manner. A radial slit is formed in the canopy and the edges are brought into overlapping position andheld in place in such position by means of a staple 35 or by any other suitable means. The effect of overlapping the edges of the canopy on both sides of slit 34 is to cause the canopy to The conical assume a somewhat conical shape. shape of canopy 30 is of material assistance 'ing their collapse.

selfrsupporting :since' it. will. collapse alonstits centraLfold. A handle, similar to thatxusedeom canopy 20*must be employed to bow the central fold sufiiciently to prevent its collapse. Any other folds will be automatically bowed;ltoc0rr-- form .to the conical shape of the canopy, and the handle, will accentuate their. bowed" condi:: tion.

Handle 3| is H-shaped and: there are accord-.= inglyfourstaples 32 to fasten the four endsof said H-shaped handle to the canopy. It is;.located near the center of the canopy in. such a. way that a. perpendicular line, throughthemida. section of. longitudinal portions 321) and 320, will traverse all fold. lines of the canopy. The preferred location for the handle, when parall'eb fold lines are used in the canopy, is illustratecb in the drawing. It will be noted in the. drawing that the cross member 32a of the handle inter sects. the centermost folding line 33d at:right angles thereto and that the two longitudinal portions 321) and 320 thereof are equally-spaced from said centermost folding line in parallel re lation thereto. Hence it will be seen that han-e dle 3| is centrally disposed relative to canopyg 30 whereas handle 2! was disposed on onesid'e of the centermost folding line ofcanopy 20.

Each longitudinal portion 32b, 3lc of handle 3! performs the same function as does handle- 2l. In other words, when longitudinal portions 3% and 320 are bowed in the direction away from the canopy, they tend to contract. length and thereby assist in the task of"main'-.- taining the canopy in open condition. Cross member 3211 is really the handle proper and it is provided with a centrally extending foldingline= 32d upon which it may be folded lengthwise: upon itself in the manner shown in Fig. 12. In the drawing, fold line 32d is shown as theperpendicular bisector of longitudinal portions 3212' and 320. While thisis desirable, it is not-essential tothe proper functioning of handle 31-.

It is understood that when cross member 32a is located on the geometric center of the canopy,

- as illustrated, it would interfere with the. folding-- of the canopy to the proportions illustrated for canopy 2!! in Fig. 9. However, it can be folded'to compact proportions by making the final foldto; one side of cross member 32a. When'cross mem-; ber 32c isnot located on the geometric center of the canopy, the final fold of the folding process can be made as illustrated in Fig. 9 for canopy 20.

Cross member 32a may also be cut out along its respective side edges so that when it is folded over upon itself on folding line 32d, there will be more space between it and the canopy to accommodate the fingers of the person holding the handle.

This is clearly shown in Fig. 12.

The third form of this invention, shown in Figs. 14 to 18 inclusive, is provided with a canopy 40 which is similar to canopy 3-!) except that it has no centrally extending folding line. It does, however, have a plurality of folding lines Ill which are formed on both sides of the center of the canopy. A radial slit 42 is formed in canopy 40 and the edges of the canopy on both sides of the slit are placed one upon the other, in overlapping relation, and they are held in such position by means of a suitable adhesive or cement 43 or any other suitable fastening means.

On canopies 2i! and 3!], a handle was employed to effect a bow in the fold lines, thereby prevent- The fold lines of canopy 40 are naturally bowed, since they must conform to in preventing its collapse, but canopy 30 is not 15 .the curved surfaces of the cone. Hence it is that canopy 40 maintains itself in the open or operative condition without external assistance.

A handle 45, similar to handle 2!, is fastened to canopy 40 by means of staples 45 at both ends of said handle. When handle 45 is bowed in the direction away from the canopy, the straight line distance between its two end portions, tends to contract or decrease and the effect is to assist the canopy in maintaining its conical form, and even to accentuate its said conical form. Handle 45 may be maintained in bowed condition by the hand which holds it to support the canopy.v A locking member 4? may be provided to hold the handl in bowed condition without manual assistance. This locking member 47 comprises a strip of relatively stiff material which is fastened to the canopy by means of staples 43 at both ends of said locking member. Locking member t! is situated to extend transversely of the handle and underneath said handle. The length of locking member 41 exceeds the distance between its two end portions as they are afiixed to the canopy and hence transverse fold lines 13 and til are pro vided so that said handle may be folded flat upon itself to lie flat against the canopy. Locking member 41 also has another transverse folding line 5| and a fourth transverse folding line 52. When the locking member is folded on all of its said transverse folding lines in the manner shown in Fig. 16, it constitutes a brace which engages the handle and urges it into bowed shape. By the same token it tends to strengthen the conical structure of the canopy and that is one of its functions. The other function is to maintain the handle in such position that it may readily be grasped.

-, Figs. 19, 20 and 21 show that in all cases the folding lines must be so disposed that all are traversed by at least one diametric line D-D and the handle must be so disposed that the perpendicular bisector of its length B-B traverses all the said folding lines. In these three figures, canopies 20a, 28b, and 260 are respectively shown, these canopies being similar to canopy 20 with the sole exception that the folding lines and the handle are disposed differently. In Fig. 1 the folding lines are all parallel to each other and equally spaced from each other. In Fig. 21 the folding lines are parallel to each other but their spacing is not equal. In Fig. 20 the folding lines converge 8 to a point at the edge of the canopy. In Fig. 19 the folding lines converge but do not meet on the canopy.

It will be understood that the foregoing is descriptive of three forms of this invention and that there are other forms which are encompassed within the broad scope and spirit of the invention. For example, any one of the three handles which are shown in the drawing may be used in connection with any one of the three canopies which are shown in the drawing. Also other forms of handle and other forms of canopy may be provided within the scope of this invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A disposable umbrella comprising a canopy and a handle fastened to said canopy, said canopy being slit radially of itself with the edges on both sides of the slit fastened together in overlapping relationship to provide the canopy with a conical shape, said canopy being provided with a plurality of spaced, parallel folding lines on which it is foldable, said folding lines being disposed in parallel relation to said handle, whereby the handle may be bowed to assist the canopy in maintaining its conical shape.

2. In a disposable umbrella of the character described, a canopy having a plurality of spaced, parallel, folding lines formed therein so that said canopy may be folded upon itself, said canopy being slit radially of itself and its edges adjacent said slit being fastened together in overlapping relationship to give the canopy a conical shape.

EDWARD T. M'CPAR'ILAND.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 64,013 Hill Apr. 23, 1867 416,078 Smith Nov. 26, 1889 1,060,665 Cavally Aug. 15, 1911 1,692,462 McKinney NOV. 20, 1928 1,715,322 Foster May 28, 1929 1,822,335 Rochefort Oct. 13, 1931 2,131,212 Bechik Sept. 2'7, 1938 2,385,937 Piechowski -I Oct. 2, 1945 2,430,042 Bisbing Nov. 4, 1947 2,554,204 Mueller May 22, 1951 

